Todd Howlett takes plunge with three-pronged Scone attack
CESSNOCK-based trainer Todd Howlett might not be the most high profile trainer featuring at Scone’s premier meeting on Saturday, but he’s having a go and that’s what we love to see.
The talented horseman will line up a three-pronged attack which is headlined by Dalmatia Prince in the $400,000 Inglis Guineas.
The three-year-old by Denman brings winning form into this race, having scored by 4.3 lengths two starts back at Tamworth and repeating the dose by 2.5 lengths at Dubbo last start.
Facing a significant rise in class, the speedy colt hasn’t been heavily supported in the betting markets, but Howlett isn’t counting it out and will expect a tidy effort from his stable star.
“He’s up in grade, but his form is in great order and he’s racing well,” Howlett said.
“I suppose it’s a big test for him, but he’s well.”
Dalmatia Prince drops back in distance after running over the mile last start, but its win prior came over 1400m and that shouldn’t worry the colt, along with the dry racing surface.
“The drop back in distance won’t concern him and the good track should suit,” Howlett added, who also lines up promising filly Cinque Stella in the Segenhoe Stud Woodlands Stakes.
The lightweight chance will carry only 54kg with Kathy O’Hara in the saddle and it’s another which will need to cope with a significant rise in grade.
The maiden runner finished eighth on debut at Newcastle before improving nicely to run third at Muswellbrook last start. Howlett was encouraged by that run and despite facing the big stables in this, he’s expecting big things from his daughter of Starcraft.
“She’s a fair way up in grade, but she’s a really nice filly,” Howlett said. “The owners always had this meeting in their sights and we were able to get there.”
Howlett admits it could have started in a lesser-graded race, but it has a runners chance.
“We could have picked something easier, but she’s a nice filly. We’d just like to win a couple of races with her (this preparation),” Howlett said.
The third runner from the stable is Esgrimidor, which lines up in the Star Turn @ Vinery Handicap. The six-year-old hasn’t raced for almost a year to this day after pulling up with a problem last start.
“He wasn’t right, so we thought we’d give him a break,” Howlett said.
It has won five from 16 starts and it has placed on this track, but after missing out on a key trial, Howlett is just hoping to see a positive run from the $51 chance.
“He didn’t actually have one (referring to its missed trial). We were balloted out of it,” Howlett said.
“I’m disappointed we missed out on that trial. To be honest, he probably needs the run, but he’ll improve from that.”